How do owls turn their heads so far?

Owls have a highly flexible neck that allows them to turn their heads up to 270 degrees, a crucial adaptation for hunting. Unlike most birds, who have a limited range of head movement, owls have extra neck vertebrae—14, compared to the 7 that most mammals have. This increased number of vertebrae allows them to rotate their necks without cutting off blood supply to the brain. This ability helps owls to quickly locate prey or spot potential threats without having to move their bodies.